Suspect arrested second time in burglary case

A Carson City landscaper who posted bail last week on burglary charges was jailed again Tuesday after police allegedly located several more stolen items inside his homes on West Fourth and Elm streets.

Samuel Contreras, 50, and his girlfriend Jeanne Odaye, 35, were both arrested at Contreras' home in the 600 block of West Fourth Street about noon Tuesday.

According to Carson City Sheriff's Detective Daniel Gonzales, Contreras was jailed last week after a Genoa antiques dealer reported someone had sold her items stolen from her friend's home on Minnesota Street in early December.

Working with police, the dealer agreed to meet again with the same person in the Safeway parking lot. After exchanging money for the stolen goods, police made an arrest and were eventually led to Contreras, said Gonzales.

Owner of A to Z Landscaping, Contreras was originally booked in jail on suspicion of two counts of felony possession of stolen property in connection with the Minnesota Street burglary and another on Gay Circle; possession of a dangerous drug, maintaining a place for unlawful sale or use of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, gross misdemeanor possession of brass knuckles, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

After Contreras had been released on $50,000 bail, Gonzales was interviewing the victim of the Minnesota Street burglary when she described items that the officer had seen, but had not seized during Contreras' Dec. 14 arrest.

A judge on Monday issued a search warrant of Contreras' two homes, which included bringing the victim to identify her property, said Gonzales. Investigators arrived at the Fourth Street address near Bordewich-Bray Elementary School and recovered several more things taken in the burglary, he said. They later searched another home on Elm Street and also allegedly found stolen goods.

In addition to Contreras' arrest on suspicion of felony principal to burglary, his girlfriend Odaye was arrested on suspicion of felony principal to burglary, maintaining a place for unlawful sale or use of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of stolen property and possession of a dangerous drug. Her bail was set at $40,000.

Officers then went to the Silver Queen Inn in the 200 block of West Caroline Street where they allegedly found more stolen goods in room 241. Lisa Marie Engan, 48, was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.